needy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   needy people collectively

   they try to help the needy

2. 2
   adj

   In need; poor.

   Needy people want to give too, but have few material goods to offer.

3. 3
   adj

   Desiring constant affirmation; lacking self-confidence.

   It's emotionally exhausting to be around her because she's so needy.

4. 4
   adj

   Needful; necessary.

   It is the measure of things, and their time (that is, their measure, as to space and time), and yet it is above, and prior to, time: it is full in needy things, and overflows in full things; it is unutterable, innominable: it is above understanding […]

5. 5
   adj

   demanding or needing attention, affection, or reassurance to an excessive degree

6. 6
   adj

   poor enough to need help from others

Etymology

From Middle English nedy, nedi (“necessitous”), from Old English nēdiġ, *nīediġ ("of need, obligated, compelled"; found in the derivative nīediġnes (“obligation”)), from Proto-Germanic *naudigaz (“of need, forced, compelled”), equivalent to need + -y. Cognate with Scots nedy, neidy (“needy, necessitous, impoverished”), Saterland Frisian niedich (“miserable, poor, wretched, needy”), Saterland Frisian nöödich (“necessary, needful”), West Frisian nedich (“needful, needed”), Dutch nodig (“necessary”), Middle Low German nōdich (“necessary, urgent, by requirement”), German nötig (“necessary, needful…